I realised this morning, during a morning cuddle with Baby Harley on the bed, that he never "kneads", even when he's in total bliss. He purrs a lot—even more than the two older ones—but he doesn't knead. Since this reflex is linked to early kittenhood and nursing, and as he was taken from his mother at just a month old, could that be the reason? Did he not have enough time to pick up the habit?
Félia and Gatsby both knead, though in different situations. For Félia (who was with her mum and siblings until she was 3 1/2 months old), it's on my lap when she's having a cuddle, and for Gatsby (who was with his family until he was 3 months old), it's when he's about to settle down somewhere particularly soft and fluffy.
What surprises me is that I thought one of the signs of a kitten being separated too early from its mother was actually excessive kneading while suckling on fabric. Could my baby be an exception?
Napping right up against his big sister
My little teddy bear ;)
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Her mum is just over 13 lbs, but she's tall. Obviously, when I talk about weight, I mean the size that goes with it; her dad, at 22 lbs, is absolutely massive!
Are you sure about the kneading on your head? Don't forget they stick their claws out when they knead! ;) One of the other members' boys does it (Lolop's, I think), so she has to clip his claws really often, otherwise she wouldn't have any scalp left!
Cathyauray and Laurence, so that's more confirmation that not all cats knead. Well, I've certainly learnt something from this thread; I was convinced every cat did it!
Euqinorev,
Angèle, who I took in when she was only 15 days old, kneads every time I’m lying down???? She kneads much more than the others, actually!!! And at 5 years old, she’s still at it!!! Isis, my little hunter, doesn’t knead, and Osiris doesn’t either!
It’s only after reading your post that I’ve just realised—it’s true, two of my cats don’t knead at all!!!
Laurence and her Noah’s Ark
As for my lot, Milady is nearly 8 months old now and I've had her since the 7th of September. She’s a big kneader! Sometimes she gets behind me, puts both paws on my back and starts kneading away; she’d do it for ages if I didn’t move her so I could get up. She does it in the morning too.
On the other hand, her little brother P'tit loup, who’s 3 months old and has been with me since the 6th of December, doesn't really do it much.
I don't remember my other two cats, Marwin and Loupigne, ever doing it—they're 14 now and I’ve had them since they were 6 months old.
I think 11 lbs for a female Maine Coon is quite a lot actually!!! It’s true that next to a big, chunky male she looks like a little shrimp, but I’ve rarely seen a female go over 11–13 lbs. Guizmo’s mum is 11 lbs and his dad is 14 lbs (small for a male), and my boy is 16 lbs at 17 months and is still growing. My Goupix looks tiny by comparison at only 13.5 lbs!
The main thing is having a big, healthy cat and not just the biggest furball possible, especially if it leads to serious health issues down the line!
Going back to the kneading, I’d love it if my boys kneaded on my head; I love a scalp massage, even if it's a nightmare to untangle my hair afterwards!!!
Oh yes Cris, definitely, kneading in your hair isn't exactly ideal! :)
P'titefleur, that’s what I remembered. And Félia is 2 years and 10 months old. I don’t know her actual size, but at a tiny 11 lbs she’s a little sweetheart, even though her dad is nearly 22 lbs. I was just wondering really, as the most important thing is that she’s happy and healthy.
Oh wow, those cats are absolutely gorgeous! Honestly, it makes me want to get another one myself!!
Anyway, getting back to the topic of kneading, Bouille is a proper expert. He never stops—he does it everywhere and all the time. The only time I’m not really a fan is at bedtime; he sleeps right above my head on my pillow and kneads away at my hair. It means I wake up in the morning with it all frizzy and tangled! :))
Voyou is such a handsome ginger. I really love Flemming's colour as well. I think he’s around the same age as my Félia – how much does the handsome lad weigh? My girl is about 11 lbs, a tiny little thing for a Maine Coon :)
Thanks Civa, but your Hulys is every bit as stunning as they are, you know!
